Chaukhandi Stupa Tours

The Chaukhandi Stupa is an important Buddhist stupa originally built as a terraced temple to mark the place where the Buddha and his first disciples met when traveling from Bodhgaya to Sarnath.

Built during the Gupta period (4th-6th centuries), the stupa’s octagonal top tower was said to be added much later by Govardhan, the son of Raja Todarmal, in 1588 during the Mughal era. He built the additional tower to commemorate the visit of Humayun, the great Mughal ruler.

The stupa stands amid beautifully maintained gardens and serves as the gateway to the Buddhist city of Sarnath. It is just a short walk from the structure to the Sarnath Museum nearby, and also close to the other sites and attractions of Sarnath.

Practical Info

Being located just a 20-minute drive from Varanasi city, it’s easy to take a taxi to reach Sarnath to visit the Chaukhandi Stupa.